Sunday Best: Feb. 7, 2016

Super Bowl, that is. I’m a little glad my team isn’t in the playoffs this year, so I don’t have to get emotionally invested—especially in last-minute, mind-boggling, game-losing plays (Why, Seahawks, why?!). I’m currently in Panorama, but should make it back in time to catch the big game with bae.

My money’s on the Panthers, but I also wouldn’t mind seeing Manning walk away with the trophy during what could be his “last rodeo.” As long as I never have to relive the worst play call in Super Bowl history ever again.

It’s my friend Katrina’s birthday tomorrow, and we celebrated this past weekend by heading out to Panorama. The owner of her company has a condo out there that he raffles out to the employees from time to time and, quite luckily, she managed to secure it for this weekend!

Panorama definitely holds a special place in my heart. One of my best friends in high school had a cabin there, and we spent many a weekend exploring the village, attending bonfires, and getting up to general hijinks. The last time I went was in our graduating year (2008—I feel old now), so it was definitely nostalgic to make a return to the mountain village. It may not exactly be a big “vacation,” as time off is harder to come by the older I get, but I’ve loved little getaways like this all my life. In university, getting away to Golden, Fernie, or Revelstoke for just a weekend (whether it was a solo road trip or U of C Ski Club trip) were always adventures I looked forward to.

We hit the hot tubs, and celebrated Kat’s birthday with a cheese and chocolate fondue dinner at The Mile One Hut, at the top of the chairlift. Her beau, Brad, organized the dinner, along with a surprise Sunday morning massage for her (lucky girl, am I right?). We essentially had the entire hut to ourselves, and our server even let us plug in our phones to the speaker system for a private karaoke/dance floor session. After a little Savage Garden and Biggie, we huddled around a bonfire outside with Toblerones.

Instead of a birthday cake, I tried my hand at Momofuku Milk Bar‘s famous “Crack Pie,” but with a Speculaas Cookie Butter twist (Kat is part Dutch!). Look out for the recipe coming this week.

All in all, it was a great weekend trip, and the most fun I’ve had in a little while (like I said, I’m getting old these days)! Now I’m looking forward to my next little adventure on the list: Vancouver!

For the first time ever, Avenue Calgary is opening up their annual “Best Restaurants Awards” to the public. Willow Park Wines & Spirits will be hosting the bash, and a ticket nets you the opportunity to sample hors d’oeuvres prepared by the 2016 honourees, accompanied by paired wine tastings. What a steal.

If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be there. Last year’s honourees included Rouge, Raw Bar, Model Milk, and Anju. I’ve got more than a sneaking suspicion that Pigeonhole (one of my Calgary favourites) will be on this year’s list—if not at the very top. You heard it here first.

Early bird pricing is available on the first 50 tickets until Tuesday, February 8th (if they haven’t sold out already) on Eventbrite. See you there!

(Pssst. Another little secret: this list may soon become the next-gen Best Restaurants of Calgary, if you catch my drift. Supplementary reading also available here.)

As I mentioned above, my next little getaway will be Vancouver. My boyfriend and I had discussed taking a Vancouver trip last year, but we hadn’t decided when to go yet. He finally pulled the trigger this week, and booked us flights to our fairer-weathered, east coast metropolitan neighbour for Easter! For those who don’t know, half of my family lives here in Calgary (my sister and my dad), while the other half lives in Vancouver (my other sister and my mom). So, it’s a city I’m pretty familiar with, and enjoy visiting as a “home away from home.”

I can’t wait to eat some great food (Guu Garlic, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, and Joe Fortes are already on the list) and to document our adventure. This trip is also perfectly timed—as my mom just moved into their newly-renovated home—so we’ll be staying in my family’s recently-vacated condo in Coal Harbour.

I generally prefer to travel solo, but this will be our first trip together, so I’m really looking forward to it. Kat (who I mentioned above) and her beau will also be there during that time, which makes it all the more special!